‘Don’t you want to be happy?’
‘I am happy.’
‘But you’re not in love.’
‘Nope, but I am in control.’
Arzu is essentially a coming-of-age story but the beauty of the book lies in the fact that it is able to beautifully capture the process of growth, change and hard work, which can be tremendously difficult to write about in an interesting way. Arzu’s efforts to develop herself and find her place in the world are inspiring, especially for young readers who are trying to figure themselves out.Arzu is an unexpected treat, filled with many such nuggets of wisdom, which are eye opening, both for Arzu and for the reader. It’s not easy to find a book in the young adult genre with an Indian female protagonist but Razdan has brought a strong character to life in a world that is both fancy and realistic. The setting of the uber rich societies of Mumbai and New York with conversations about travelling in Europe, finishing school and debutante balls bring an element of fantasy to the book, reminding yours truly of the phase when she followed ‘Gossip Girl’ on television. But unlike the show, the author takes care to make the protagonist realize her privilege, who vows to make good use of it too.
Arzu is a strong girl, someone who goes through her fair share of troubles, heartbreaks and confusion, who goes on to transform into an even stronger and bolder young woman.